Ah, I want to hit her. I'm dying to punch her once.

My fists are itching. If she were a non-ability user, that might be different. But she's none other than Kang Minseong's granddaughter. A woman Seojin oppa cares about greatly. She's a promising ability user, so shouldn't she be able to withstand a light smack?

No, no. Calm down. Calm down. If I raise my fist here, I lose. After taking a deep breath with a "whew!", I look at Kim Suhyeon in front of me.

...Ah, this girl is really annoying me to death. That smile on her lips is so irritating I could die.

She's not just smiling, she's subtly mocking this side. I can feel it. Her whispering "Did you think you were first?"

'I'm so embarrassed I could die. Ugh!'

I thought I was first place, but damn it, there was already a runner ahead. Not knowing that, I talked about kissing in front of Seojin oppa? Ah, really. Why did I do that? Crazy girl. Why did you do that!

"Is that all you have to say?"

Is that it? You think? Of course there's more. But... bu, but! It's a bit embarrassing to ask this outright, that's the problem!

"..."

"Is that it?"

"Ah, wait a bit! It's not over!"

"Then think while you listen. I also have something to say."

Kim Suhyeon who said that suddenly crosses her arms and glares at me. Wow. Crossing your arms in front of me? Even Elders can't do that? Just how far have I fallen? Why am I being so blatantly ignored!

"From the conversation earlier, it seems like you used the kind examiner to fulfill personal greed."

"What are you saying? That I used Seojin oppa."

"Isn't that right?"

This is what confident eyes look like while asking again.

"No. I just asked if he couldn't do it, and Seojin oppa quickly went ahead and did it."

"...Hmm."

"Really. I swear on our mom and dad."

Mom, dad, I'm sorry. But I'm really innocent so don't worry.

"You didn't ask while saying it was your last wish, right?"

"...Am I dying? Why would I make a last wish?"

Honestly, I was a bit guilty. It seems Seojin oppa misunderstood like that. But that's not my fault either, right? I never said it was a last wish.

Seojin oppa misunderstood on his own, so this time I'm innocent too!

"I see."

Kim Suhyeon who nodded looks at me thoughtfully.

"So, what's the next thing you want to say?"

Ah. Ahh. I don't know. Let's just go for it.

"...Did you?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you do it?"

"Yes. I did."

The moment I heard Kim Suhyeon's answer, my body trembled. Without realizing it, I almost hit this woman right then. If I hadn't grabbed my reason in that instant, I definitely would have.

"Really, really did it?"

"That's what I said. By the way, Seojin oppa approached me first."

...Ahh. Right. I see. You did it. Yeah, you did it. I begged, coaxed, and threw tantrums for 5 whole days, doing everything. But he put up such a wall, and he'd already done everything.

I suddenly feel miserable. Sigh... and I didn't even know...

"I answered just before too. I did it before Irina."

"Huh?"

"I said I did it before Irina."

Did it first? What does that mean? I've never done it though?

"Wait. Hey. Do you know what I'm asking about?"

"Weren't you talking about kissing?"

Kissing? What I asked about wasn't that 12+ rated version! The moment I heard Kim Suhyeon's answer, I unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

Phew. Thank goodness. What, it wasn't what I was thinking about. I almost had a heart attack. Really, I was even considering whether to turn over the hospital.

"What? Why are you suddenly sighing?"

"Why would I? Of course it's because I'm relieved."

"Relieved?"

"Anyway, you went to the villa with Seojin oppa recently, right? So you kissed there?"

"Yes. To be precise, I received a kiss."

I get it, so stop emphasizing. It's getting annoying, you know?

"And then?"

"And then, what?"

"What else did you do next?"

"Do what..."

Now realizing what I want to ask, Kim Suhyeon closes her mouth.

She seems to have realized that dragging out the answer here would let her occupy more advantageous ground. Too late, foolish girl. I already heard your answer just before?

She had no idea at all. I couldn't find even a trace of lying. Thanks to that, I could be certain. She also, like me, couldn't do anything after the kiss.

'Thank goodness.'

Right, really thank goodness. I thought I'd fallen too far behind to catch up. I thought it was a bus I could never board, but there's still a chance left.

A first kiss, fine, I'll give you that. But it doesn't end with just that, right? Rather, what comes next is important. Not the meeting of lips and lips, but the meeting of bodies.

I wondered if maybe Seojin oppa had already done it with Kim Suhyeon at the villa. But looking at Kim Suhyeon's reaction, it doesn't seem like that.

Maybe it's natural. This girl is so anxious about falling out of Seojin oppa's favor. She's absolutely not the type to climb on top. She'll wait for Seojin oppa to pounce.

Of course, Kim Suhyeon isn't just going to wait around.

She's the type of woman who'll use some method to make Seojin oppa have no choice but to climb on.

Before that happens, somehow I'll eat oppa first!

*

I made a mistake. I was too relaxed.

Thinking that I received a kiss from the examiner before Irina. Because that was so delightful and thrilling, busy enjoying the feeling of victory. I gave up the advantageous position I could have maintained longer.

'I should have dragged it out more.'

I should have noticed when this woman asked what I did again. I thought she was only talking about kissing, but who knew she meant love between men and women.

No matter how lacking in manners and propriety she is. I never imagined she'd ask so blatantly. This is why the examiner keeps trying to push her away.

"Hmph. Hmph."

Look at that. Just before she was whimpering like a puppy that needs to pee. Having gained certainty from me, she's immediately full of confidence.

She can give up the first kiss. Anyway, she just needs to get the first partner. What that woman is thinking is obvious. It's obvious, but this is also quite dangerous, so I'm getting anxious too.

'Even this time, I wasn't by the examiner's side and Irina was.'

I'm working hard, really working hard. I'm gritting my teeth and making an effort.

Even after becoming 'Silver' at the Academy, I never rested and continued training. Even when professors and teaching assistants told me to rest while doing it, I didn't listen. I just kept training and training with Bronze comrade Lee Hyunwoo.

That's how recently I even tied with Hana unnie.

I, who could barely reach Bronze when I first entered school. Now I can fight on equal terms with Hana unnie who's Platinum rank.

I had gained confidence. That now I could be by the examiner's side. I thought I was sufficient to be by his side, that I wouldn't be a hindrance.

But watching the examiner who fought Elders and repelled them several times. I couldn't help but feel infinitely small and shabby. Even the examiner gets seriously injured and evacuated every time, so what about me?

Opposite to me like that, Irina is a powerhouse of unknown limits. I couldn't help but be shocked when I heard she fought three Elders this time. She even achieved the feat of finally eliminating one of those Elders.

The day I heard that news, I bit my lips until they bled. Then I immediately got up and went to the training ground.

The mountain I had to overcome, the opponent I had to compete with was still enormous. In skill, in confidence. Even those big breasts...

"Hey. Hey! What are you looking at?"

"...Huh, ah! I, I wasn't looking?!"

"Like hell you weren't looking, why does your gaze keep going here?"

Irina pokes her chest area with her finger. Watching that, I unconsciously bit my lips. And I lowered my gaze very slightly to look at my own chest too.

It's absolutely not small. Hana unnie said this size is big. Yoo Dasom senior even screamed "What should I do if that's small!" Why does it feel so small only when I stand in front of this woman?

"What. You were so confident after receiving a first kiss, but now it seems not?"

"Shut up."

"Really? I understand. Then I'll speak with this instead of my mouth."

Then Irina goes "yap!" and pushes her chest inward. Watching that sight, I unconsciously bit my lips hard.

"Don't be too careless. Even if you win once in battle, you can still lose the war."

"...Normally the side that gains momentum keeps winning, right?"

"You could think that. Then let's try it once. Who'll win in the next battle?"

Irina giggles and turns around first, saying let's go down. How much I want to hit that blonde back of her head! I'm holding back because of the examiner!

*

Without deciding who goes first, Kim Suhyeon and Irina leave the rooftop.

The one who got slightly ahead, and the one who fell slightly behind. But there's absolutely no guarantee that will continue forever.

Rather, you could say the 'real' thing starts now.

'When Seojin oppa is discharged, it's a direct confrontation.'

'When the examiner's body gets better, should I approach slightly?'

Irina who wants to charge straight from the front.

Kim Suhyeon who wants to subtly blow wind from the side or back. Though they seem different, they ultimately want the same thing.

What the two women want is just one thing. That is none other than Baek Seojin! A hot and passionate night with that man! With that one union, they'll sink this rival before their eyes in one blow!

And—

"...Why is my spine suddenly so cold?"

Baek Seojin, left alone in the hospital room, dimly realized an ominous future. Of course, since it was none other than himself who brought about that future, he couldn't blame anyone.